People

Christmas Eve at the Front

An interesting letter has just been received by Mrs Packer, of Broadclyst, from her husband, Corpl Packer of A Company, 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment, who is serving with the Expeditionary Force in Northern France. In the course of a letter he describes a remarkable incident which occurred on Christmas Eve between the British and German trenches.

Lavington Church Workers

Bdr G M Durant and Miss J K Farr
Bride’s Father Officates
A guard of honour of four fellow Royal Artillery NCO’s, all former scholars of Lavington Sunday School, greeted Bombardier George M Durant, RA, only son of Mr and Mrs M J Durant, Darracott, Bideford, and Miss Joan Kate Farr, elder daughter of the Rev and Mrs W J Farr, Lavington House, Bideford, after their marriage at Lavington Congregational Church, Bideford, on Saturday.
There was a large attendance of friends at the church, which had been specially decorated with tulips and lilac by Miss P Durant, Miss A Lee and Miss D Wilton. The ceremony was performed by the bride’s father, who is pastor of Lavington Church and a former chairman of the Devon Congregational Union.
The bridegroom is grandson of the late Mr and Mrs G Boyle.
The full Gazette article is dated 7 May 1940

Wed In The Old Year

Military Bridegrooms

Pretty Scene at Westward Ho!
There was a pretty scene at the Westward Ho! Baptist Church on December 26th when the wedding took place between L/Cpl Frank Gray, younger son of Mr and Mrs B Gray, Holt Cottage, Appledore, and Miss Alice Mary Wilkey, twin daughter of Mr and Mrs F J Wilkey, Venton Farm, Westward Ho!
The Rev F Hobbs officiated and Miss S Barrett was at the organ. The bride was attended by her twin sister, Mrs J K Moore. Driver W R Langdon, brother-in-law of the bridegroom, carried out the duties of best man. The ushers were Messrs M Wilkey and M Wyatt.

Pte H Connor and Miss D Akast

There have been a number other pretty local weddings in the district.
At St Mary’s Church, Appledore, on December 31st, the wedding took place of Pte Hervey Connor, of the Royal West Kent (the Queen’s) Regiment, son of the late Mr T J Connor, RE, of London and of the late Mrs Connor, and Miss Doris Akast, youngest daughter of the late Mr F J Akast and of Mrs M Akast of London.
The bride was given away by Mr J Tobin. Mr A Heard deputised for L/Cpl G Pound, the brother of the bridegroom, as best man.
A reception was held at Halsbury House, Appledore, the home of the bride, where the Vicar proposed the health of the happy couple.

Mr F J Cloke and Miss E V Squires

At St Mary’s Church, Bideford, on Boxing Day, the wedding took place between Mr Percival John Cloke, second son of Mr and Mrs J Cloke, Marland Terrace, Bideford, and Miss Eileen Vera Squires, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs J Squires, 1 Myrtle Grove, Bideford.
The Rev R Y Stone officiated at the ceremony. Mr R Harper presided at the organ. There were five bridesmaids – Miss Muriel Squires, Miss Yvonne Horn, Miss Joyce Blight, Miss Mary Squires, and Miss Mabel Emery. Mr Philip Evans of Appledore carried out the duties of best man.

The full Gazette article is dated 7 January 1941

Bride’s Three Sisters as Bridesmaids

Bideford Wedding

Three sisters of the bride were bridesmaids at the wedding at Bideford Baptist Church, on May 22nd, of Craftsman Ronald Arthur Payne, REME, elder son of Mr and Mrs A E Payne, 2 Wensley Green, Leeds, and Miss Evelyn May Langdon, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs S Langdon, Rose Lea, 2 Wimbourne Terrace, Bideford.
The Rev F Hobbs officiated at the ceremony. Mr W S Darch was at the organ. The bride’s three sisters – Misses Kathleen, Vera and Joan Langdon – were bridesmaids. Gunner Fields, friend of bride and bridegroom, carried out the duties of best man. Mr H Phillips and Master John Langdon were ushers. AC 2 J L Payne, and Flying Officer R C Langdon, were unable to attend.
On leaving the church the bride was presented with horseshoe tokens by Master Denis Langdon and the Misses Hazel and Caroline Chope.
The full Gazette article is dated 6 June 1944